About

 Welcome to my website! My name is Yair Stern, and I am a luthier and designer deeply passionate about creating exquisite and distinctive string instruments. Since 2016, I have dedicated myself to the design and construction of mandolin family instruments, which are my personal favorites to play. Located in Canada, I take pride in handcrafting all my instruments from beginning to end, ensuring no part of the process is outsourced.

As a luthier, I find the design of original instruments to be the most rewarding and demanding part of my work. My goal is to craft instruments that are not only sonically pleasing but also visually distinctive and potentially unique. While adhering to the fundamental principles and standards of instrument construction, I infuse each creation with my personal touch to ensure its uniqueness.

Purchasing one of my handmade instruments guarantees you a piece of art that delights both the eyes and the ears. I assure you, whether you are an experienced musician or a beginner, that you will enjoy both playing and possessing one of my creations. Visit my website to discover more about my craft and select the ideal instrument for your requirements.

Design, Building Philosophy & Availability

As a skilled luthier, I take great pride in building each mandolin by hand. This time-consuming process allows me to create truly unique and personalized instruments for my clients. I believe in the importance of working on a single instrument at a time. From start to finish, I am involved in every aspect of the building process, including the final set-up.

Unfortunately, at present, my stock of instruments is limited or non-existent. Most of my instruments are made to order but from time to time you might find some on the “Available for sale” page. I don’t believe this will changes in the future, but for now, my focus remains on crafting each mandolin with the utmost care and attention to detail. If you are interested in purchasing a mandolin, the waiting time is around three month and may change.

Should you desire, you have the option to customize your instrument within certain limits. You can choose the type of wood, the shape of the fingerboard, scale length, the tuning machines, the frets wire and more. Please note that the price will vary based on your customization choices. It takes approximately three weeks to build one of my instruments depending on the model and upgrades.

I am dedicated to making each instrument the best it can be, and I believe that the time and effort I put into building each mandolin are reflected in the final product. Whether you're a professional musician or just starting out, I'm confident that you'll love playing and owning one of my handcrafted mandolins.

Ordering or purchasing an instrument.

Please be aware that when purchasing one of my handcrafted instruments, the prices displayed on my website are in US Dollars (USD) and exclude taxes and shipping costs. A $200 deposit is required at the time of order, with the full balance due upon the instrument's completion. To initiate the purchase of one of my creations, just email me, and we will begin the process. Payment can be completed through PayPal invoicing, which accepts credit cards among other methods. Once the payment is confirmed, your instrument will be dispatched to you using FedEx or a similar courier service.

Shipping and taxes

Shipping to the USA costs approximately $75 USD but may change over time. To date, my customers have not been charged any taxes or duties in the USA.

Shipping to the EU and UK costs approximately $150 USD, in the EU a 3% customs duty and VAT are charged.

Caring for your instrument

To ensure that your instrument lasts a lifetime, it's important to take good care of it. As all my instruments are made of 100% solid wood and finished with shellac, it's crucial to keep them in an environment with a humidity level of 40-60%. Prolonged exposure to dry conditions will cause irreversible damage, even if it doesn't show immediately.

Return and Warranty

If you're not completely satisfied with an instrument you’ve purchased, you have 14 days to return it. You will be refunded the buying price less the shipping and 10% restocking fees. Please note that you'll be responsible for the return shipping costs. I offer a one-year warranty on all my instruments.